Natural Resources and Violent Conflict - WaterWiki.net

210 winer and rouleIn the course of its country-by-country assessments, it has provided extensiveinformation on the use of narcotics proceeds by terrorist groups in each of themajor illicit drug–producing areas. During the period of 1994 through 1999,there was no exception to this phenomenon: wherever substantial amounts ofillicit narcotics were produced, terrorists or rebel groups were taking advantageof drug profits.11. For terrorists, gold and gemstones have generally been vehicles for launderingmoney, rather than commodities to be exploited. Since the September 11,2001, terrorist attacks, numerous public reports have highlighted thesemechanisms.12. The examples provided are illustrative rather than exhaustive.13. Many other studies have undertaken considered reviews and assessmentsof the impact of sanctions on areas of conflict. See, for example,Cortright and Lopez (2002); Hufbauer, Schott, and Elliott (1990). Adequateconsideration of this topic is beyond the scope of this chapter. The followingbrief discussion of sanctions is offered only as a summary relevant to financialmechanisms pertaining to illicit commodities transactions in zones ofconflict.14. Interviews of former U.S. ambassador for the implementation of theDayton Accords, Robert Gelbard, November 2002, and of former U.S. specialenvoy to the Balkans, James O’Brian, March 2002, each by Jonathan Winer.15. As of November 2002, 166 countries were signatories to the Viennaconvention. Two notable exceptions remain Cambodia and Myanmar. Seewww.vienna.convention.at/.16. We do not address illicit resource purchases by governments as a matterof government policy, which raise different issues from illicit resource salesby officials within a government acting in their individual capacity.17. A U.S. Central Intelligence Agency chronology of nuclear smugglingfrom November 1993 through March 1996 lists more than 70 reported incidentsinvolving nuclear material. See www.cia.gov/cia/public_affairs/speeches/archives/1996/go_appendixa_032796.html.18. Article III, Regulation of Trade in Specimens of Species Included inAppendix I, CITES.19. Article VIII, CITES.20. The UN firearms protocol was, in turn, based on a ground-breakingregional convention, the Inter-American Convention Against the IllicitManufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, andOther Related Materials adopted by the Organization of American States,November 4, 1997, signed by 33 of the 34 member states. The Organizationof American States firearms convention requires signatories not to export,import, or permit the transit of weapons except when the movement of thefirearms is simultaneously lawful in the countries of export, import, and transit.The treaty mandated not only end-user certifications but also the labeling